Improvement in crutches



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LUGIUS ORANDALL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ELIPHALET LYON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CRUTCH ES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,1143, dated October 27, 1863.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUoIUs GEANDALL, of Plainfield, in the county of Union and'State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grutches; andldo hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a single crutch; Fig. 2, a similar elevation of a double crutch. Fig. 3 is a detached plan view of my arm-piece.

Similar letters of reference in the views indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in the arm-piece, the hand-piece, and the foot or socket and bottom piece of a single or double crutch, and to the peculiar means employed for fastening and adjusting the handpiece on the statt' or staves.

The arm-piece A is molded or cast of iron or other material in the shape represented in Fig. 3, the center part, f, being narrower than the ends g, land rounded, so that it readily adapts itself to the shape of the arm-pit and allows the arm to takeits natural position near the body. It is composed of two jaws, h z', which are connected by means of a screw or screws, or which may be connected by the staff 'or staves, as shown in Fig. 1. Between the two jaws the covering or cushion, when such is required, is fastened simply by drawing the cloth or other material over the edges of the upper jaw, h, and clamping the same tight by fastening' the two jaws together.

B is the handpiece, which is also molded like the arm-piece and cast hollow, of iron or other material. Its form varies to be applied to double or single crutches, and itis provided with one or two sleeves, b, to iit to the staff ,or staves O of the crutch. Said sleeves are` cast solid with the handles and fit quite loosely to the staves, so that the handle can be readily moved up or down and adjusted to the desired distance from the arm-piece. Each sleeve is provided on its inside with ascrew-thread, and a segmental bush, c, screws into it, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. This bush is made of cast or sheet metal, and it is sprung over the staff and made tapering from screwed and the sleeve is moved to the desired spot and secured, as above. This bush is equally applicable to double and single crutches; but it is of particular value for single crutches, where the handle is more likely to be adjusted than on double crutches. This fastening may also be applied to other'articles besides crutches.

The foot of my crutch consists of a cast or molded socket, D,to receive the staff or staves, together with a bottom piece, E, of iron, wood, or other material, tted to enter into the socket at the lower end, with a hole through its center for a screw, d, to pass into the staff or staves within the socket. By these means the statt or staves, the socket, and bottom piece are all tirmly fastened. together in a manner which admits of their being easily taken apart or put together, affording an opportunity to shorten the crutch at pleasure. The screw d is concealed in the interior of the bottom piece, so that it cannot come in contact with the ground in any way, even if the bottom piece should wear off, and said screw will therefore not be liable to wear oft or to split the statt or staves, which it does when it is permitted to strike the ground.

The hole in the bottom piece, as far as the same is no t occupied by the screw, may be lled with india-rubber or other suitable material to damp the sound when the crutch strikes the ground, particularly on stones or boards.

Whatl claim as new, and desire to secureby LettersPatent, is-d 1. An arm-piece, A, having its center part, f, made narrower than the ends g, as and for the purpose shown and described.

2. The combination of the two jaws hiof an arm-piece, A, as described, so that when the jaws are drawn together they take in and fasten the covering of the arm-piece.

3. The hollow molded or cast hand-piece B, with sleeves b, as shown and described.

4. The employment or use of a segmental tapering bush, c, in combination With the the staff or'staves of acrutch, constructed and sleeve b of the hand-piece B, and with the operating as and for the purpose set forth.

staff all constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as LUCIUS CRANDALL' speoied. Witnesses:

5. The cast or molded socket D, bottom ROBT. H. LoUDoN7 piece, E, and screw d, in combination with GEO. W. REED. 

